GlobeSt.com reports in from yesterday's North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors annual brokers forecast shindig at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Addison, where 540 brokers turned out to see if, indeed, 2008 is shaping up to be a year of both gloom and doom. Not so much? Hard to say. See?

In true Dallas fashion, there was scant talk of a recession and plenty of optimism for the New Year. The well-rounded panel of pros agreed that deals are still getting done, rental rates perked up a bit last year and all markets appear stable as 2008 gets underway. The one caveat is the chaos that the concern of recession could ultimately trigger. "Concern is volatile," [Matt] Craft assessed. "People might start to be afraid and it's an election year. That could hurt us in decision-making situations."